In recognition of Transport Month and to help raise awareness and combat the high number of fatalities on our roads, Santam has partnered with MasterDrive – a driver training organisation that engages with and assists companies in managing driver risk interventions.
Santam will be the headline partner for their first ‘Driving the Influence’ hybrid event to be held at the Santam Auditorium on Friday, 28 October.
According to statics by the Road Traffic Management Corporation (RTMC), fatal crashes on South African roads increased by 2.2% from 10 381 in 2019 to 10 611 in 2021, with most collisions occurring on weekends (Friday to Sunday). The highest percentage of fatal road accidents are attributed to Minibus taxis, light delivery vehicles and trucks. Drunk driving is still a major cause of fatalities on our roads, with 50% of deaths involving a driver who is over the legal drinking limit of 0.5g per 100ml.
Leaders and influential figures within the alcohol industry will come together at the MasterDrive ‘Driving the Influence’ event to assess the importance of supporting behavioural change with regards to driving under the influence (DUI).
“Santam is a socially responsible organisation that strives to uphold and promote the laws of the country and has a zero-tolerance policy towards drunk driving, as it is a significant contributor to the high number of fatalities that occur on our roads. It is therefore an objective of ours to support both government and non-profit organisations’ initiatives to clamp down on drunk driving,” says Anton Cornelissen, head of Santam Heavy Haulage.
“Our partnership with MasterDrive is important as it is aligned with our strategy to focus on driver wellness programmes as well as skills development in an effort to reduce accidents as a result of human error,” Cornelissen says.
According to a study by RTMC, over 378 people died in road crashes involving trucks and 343 people sustained injuries from January 2021 to September 2022. The study further reveals Head on and T-bone collisions as the most common types of crashes involving trucks which occur as a result of dangerous overtaking and disregarding road signs.
“South African truck drivers transport billions of rands worth of goods, from fuel to just about everything we use in our homes, across the country each year. The various goods they transport and trucks they drive require specific skills. They also require skills and training to operate these heavy vehicles safely in all weather and road conditions,” explains Cornelissen.
Currently there is a large shortage of skilled truck drivers in South Africa, with many having been recruited by high-paying European and US companies. This has placed added pressure on local operators’ truck drivers, who are often on the road and away from home and their loved ones for extended periods of time.
This is when fatigue, anxiety, and mental illness (which can lead to drinking and the use of other medications), as well as other lifestyle health issues creep in. The effects of these conditions can lead to accidents as a driver’s reaction time may become delayed, or concentration and judgment may be impaired, putting other road users at risk.
Cornelissen says in addition to carrying out skills and development programmes, fleet operators should implement comprehensive driver wellness programmes, which should include regular health checks and counselling. Looking after the wellness of heavy vehicle drivers and empowering them with the knowledge and skills they need to transport our essential goods across the country safely must become more of a focus for operators, and everyone in the transport value chain.
“As an organisation that values its people, it’s important for us to promote that same culture to all our stakeholders. Santam and MasterDrive recognises the importance of engaging and collaborating with both the fleet owners and drivers as we strive to continuously play a meaningful role in road safety awareness and development,” concludes Cornelissen.
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